By Alicia L’Archeveque
That’s why Calgary Arts Development (CADA) offers an operating grant that allocates funds to an organization on a four-year cycle, providing game-changing financial stability for recurring arts and culture events in the city.
“Without the CADA support, a lot of these festivals could not happen,” affirms Cripps. “It’s a stable investment in the arts.”
When unexpected rain and thunderstorms took a toll on attendance at the outdoor festival, Calgary ReggaeFest struggled to cover the costs for performers and venues. “A lot of the time we ended up having to use personal money to support this event,” says Cripps.
Against all odds, the volunteer-run festival continued from 2004 to 2017 with a return in 2019, followed by a COVID-induced hiatus until 2024. The Calgary Reggae Festival Society presented other programming during this time with financial support from Calgary Arts Development.
In recent years, the operating grant from CADA has provided the organization with a sense of stability that Cripps calls “life-changing.”
“Getting the grant from CADA has assisted us in having that stable operational foundation,” he says. “That support has been such a vital part of our existence.”
Since the grant is allocated over four years, the guaranteed funding allows the Calgary Reggae Festival Society to plan ReggaeFest further into the future, resulting in more fleshed-out events.
“Having a grant over four years, you can plan an event over that period of time,” says Cripps. “You can look at an artist or an event four years down the road, because you know you’re going to get that support to do it.”
ReggaeFest returned in August 2025 at The Rise on Prince’s Island Park, boasting over a dozen reggae and reggae-inspired acts. “We brought it and showcased some of the top reggae artists from across the globe,” says Cripps. “We had artists from the UK to Jamaica to the States.”
The festival emphasizes elevating and supporting local reggae voices alongside international acts, in part by putting together a local backing band for solo artists. The all-ages festival welcomed over 1,000 attendees over two days, a great success as ReggaeFest rebuilds momentum after its hiatus. The major, and often stressful, undertaking of organizing the event was alleviated by the security that the grant provided.
“[In 2025], we were in a good financial position, so we didn’t have to stress too much about that,” says Cripps. “We knew our bills would be paid.”
Cripps explains that Calgary ReggaeFest was born and reborn to fill a gap in the Western Canadian music scene. Recalling a recent concert by popular reggae band The Wailers, which he attended, Cripps described the packed crowd as being composed of seniors and young people alike. “The passion for reggae music is in Calgary, but there are very few avenues that really bring them together.”
Creating a designated festival where reggae music can be shared with everyone who enjoys it is vital for both representing and establishing a vibrant and diverse culture. “It’s aiding in presenting a stronger cultural community in Calgary,” he says. “You’re building on the cultural mosaic of what is here already.”